The cast and crew took up the entire Baccara Hotel, which is on Cancun’s famous “Hotel Strip.” While Ingber and his best friend were the two high school seniors selected to be members of the cast, they quickly adapted to the lifestyles of the college-age members of the cast. However, the experience revealed to the natural performer what goes on behind the scenes of reality programming.

“It was a lot of fun but it was work being on that camera,” Ingber said. “I could never completely relax. You always knew there were cameras there.”

While he appreciated the behind-the-scenes look into movie making he gained in Cancun, he says he remains unsure if it will lead to an acting career.

“This [movie] can lead to great things, but who knows?” he said.

Ingber says he plans to be at Harvard in the fall, but if the movie is a success, he may well be star in a “reunion” film. As a first-year, Ingber plans to check out Harvard’s offerings in theater, a capella and journalism. He brushes aside his newfound status as he prepares for Harvard’s somewhat more subdued social scene.

“I don’t consider myself a big shot at all. I don’t even consider myself a celebrity. If I get a little recognition over the next few months, it will be really cool,” he said.

In the long term, Ingber says he aspires to be a broadcaster, an endeavor that will combine his love for both acting and journalism. He says he’d like to stay in contact with fellow members of the Real Cancun cast, and so far he’s succeeded.

“I hope they are lifelong friends,” he said. As wild nights in Mexico are replaced by pre-partying for the Leverett ’80s dance, Ingber said he will always reflect warmly on his unusual senior spring break. “In all honesty, they picked who we were and where we were. But as far as emotions and experiences and thoughts and reactions, those are all genuine. All real.”

—Staff writer Faryl W. Ury can be reached at ury@fas.harvard.edu.